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A smiling young girl in a navy blue school uniform and beanie stands outdoors on a sunny day. Other children play in the background. The girl has pigtails with green ties and a patch with "Kopila" on her beanie.

LIVING OUR VALUES

As we start a new year, it's a great time to review our WHY.

You probably know BlinkNow’s mission is to change the world by empowering Nepal’s children. We also adhere to 3 key values, which we asked volunteer MacKenna Strange about after she experienced Kopila Valley. Thank you MacKenna for this report!

I first met Maggie in 2014 at a youth leadership summit. She was the inspirational speaker, sharing her story about starting BlinkNow to tell us, all high school students, that being young was not a barrier to change the lives of others. I went home and told everyone I knew about Maggie and her impact through BlinkNow and have been following along on her journey since.

Recently, I finally had the opportunity to come to Kopila Valley for a couple weeks to teach a college admissions workshop and collect content for the organization’s social channels. After following so closely, I knew there was a possibility that BlinkNow looked different on the ground than what its online presence suggests. Much to the contrary, I was amazed with what I saw happening during my time at Kopila Valley and again felt inspired to share my experience.

A young child in a red jacket waves and smiles at the camera, seated at a wooden table in a classroom. Other children in blue uniforms are seated alongside, surrounded by colorful wall decorations and large windows letting in sunlight.

Three Core Values

The three pillars of the BlinkNow organization—gender equality, economic empowerment, and sustainability—are put into practice every day through local programs. These pillars ensure that BlinkNow’s mission is deeply embedded into the community, and eventually will be self-sustaining.

Gender Equality

The Women’s Center offers opportunities and trains the most at-risk local women in trades like tailoring and sewing, weaving, and cosmetology. Women go on to get jobs through Kopila Valley—like weaving at the Women’s Cooperative where they make shawls, bags, and other items (great for gifts!), tailoring and sewing school uniforms at the school, or opening their own small businesses. Over 400 people have been trained at the center, and 20 small businesses have been started by program graduates so far.

Kopila Valley School is providing schooling for girls, who have had few opportunities for education in the past, and ensures that over 50% of the student body is female. The school’s Girls’ Club is building leadership skills for girls, who are then hosting seminars and forums to discuss gender equality issues with their peers and community.

A classroom of young children in colorful uniforms stand in a circle under a ceiling decorated with paper chains and hanging crafts. They are engaged in an interactive activity led by an adult, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere.
A yellow school bus labeled "Kopila Valley School Bus" is parked on a dirt road. A child is running towards the bus while others are boarding. Trees and a wooden structure are in the background under a clear blue sky.

Economic Empowerment

The Futures Program at Kopila Valley starts counseling with students in eighth grade, helping them research and apply to higher education programs, college, and trade school, as well as applying to scholarships. Futures also serves as a launchpad to get students living on their own after school. Supporting kids through this transitional period to ensure they find their footing, economically and emotionally, will help break the cycle of poverty in one just generation of healthy young adults. The school has programs to assist with university scholarships and/or entrepreneurship, for those graduates who wish to start a business.

In addition, the Women’s Center is providing career connections, business startup loans, and ongoing support groups for trainees and program graduates.

Kopila partners with the local PGS Farmers’ Group (Participatory Guarantee System), Sana Kishan, to provide resources and support for organic farming practices. These strong women are growing food to sell to Kopila Valley programs as well as the local community, increasing food options and health for all of us.

A person uses a sewing machine in a rustic room with a large window. Colorful flags hang outside, and trees are visible in the background. The person is focused on their work, with sunlight streaming in.

Sustainability

Lastly, Kopila Valley is an innovator in sustainability. When it comes to climate change, Nepal is one of the most vulnerable nations. On Kopila Valley’s green school campus, the greenest in Nepal, local farmers tend organic gardens and a small dairy farm. Meals at the Children’s Home and school are supplied with vegetables, milk and cheese, and eggs grown on the school’s farm or from the local PGS group.

The school’s campus is full of sustainable measures everywhere I look. Edible trees throughout the campus grow grapefruits and passion fruits that the kids excitedly pick when ripe. The school’s solar heating system, water recycling technology, and composting process serve to sustainably run the school while educating students on the environment through experiential learning, including outdoor classes and a gardening curriculum. Students and staff implement recycling programs and encourage the surrounding community to do the same. Single-use plastic is not allowed on school grounds.

A lush balcony garden filled with vibrant pink and red flowers cascades down a railing. Below, a courtyard features a thatched-roof gazebo surrounded by greenery. Two buildings with red-brown walls and dark roofs frame the scene under a clear sky.

Community Building

BlinkNow has built a template for successful, community-integrated development, starting with the most vulnerable members of a community. But after only 18 years, the time in which one child turns into an adult, the impact is already seen across the city, from the accountant who graduated from Kopila Valley School to the hair salon owner who trained at the Women’s Center. I know this is just the beginning of their impact.

I hope you’ll join me in supporting BlinkNow this year. I look forward to a world where all kids have opportunities like those at Kopila Valley.

A girl in a blue school uniform stands with her eyes closed and hands pressed together in prayer. Other students in similar uniforms are lined up behind her in an outdoor covered area. The sunlight filters through an open, structured roof.
Stone steps overgrown with grass lead up to a wall under the shade of tall trees. Bright sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the steps. A red railing is visible on one side.

WHO WE ARE

Thanks for your interest in the BlinkNow team! You can explore the WHO WE ARE drop down menu for more information about our mission, our history, and our team.

WHAT WE DO

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GET INVOLVED

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